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China's much-ridiculed footballers are ranked 65th by FIFA, they have never won a match at a World Cup Finals and they were roundly thrashed 6-0 by Wales in their most recent game.

But instead of introducing new measures to help a country of 1.4 billion people produce 11 men who don't embarrass themselves on a football pitch, Chinese sports officials are instead clamping down on tattoos in order to promote "socialist values'.

Real Madrid star Gareth Bale grabbed the headlines as Wales swept aside China in the southern city of Nanning last Thursday, scoring a hat-trick in the Chinese team's latest humiliation.

But fans and media also spotted how the Chinese players sported bandages over their arms and legs to cover tattoos.

Chinese players at the training sessions were also covering up their skin with long-sleeved attire and running tights.

Wei Shihao playing against Qatar in January, left, and Wales on FridayCredit:
Getty Images

Reports then began emerging in Chinese media that tattoos had come under scrutiny from authorities.

Sohu sports said "detailed measures" on tattoos will be issued by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) in the coming weeks.

A senior CFA official told the media outlet: "China promotes cultural confidence among nationalities and core socialist values, so as the national team, it has a responsibility to provide a healthy football culture for society and work as an example in this respect."

A report from Shanghai-based outlet thepaper.com said the new measures will be implemented across Chinese football, from all levels of the national team, to professional league matches in the Chinese Super League to "teenage football matches".